Randal Kolo Muani’s first goal of the season was a massive relief for Juventus, snatching a crucial point away from a red-hot Cagliari squad. But don’t let the draw fool you, the Bianconeri looked toothless out there, managing to stumble to a 1-1 tie after yet another strike from Cagliari’s Daniel Maldini.
Maldini Shows How to Score While Juventus Struggles
Honestly, Cagliari came into this game flying high, sitting higher up the table with three straight wins and four victories in their first five matches. You could feel that energy. Daniel Maldini, celebrating his birthday, was an absolute menace, bagging his *fourth* Serie A goal in a row! He started the whole thing himself, robbing Francisco Conceicao in midfield, seeing his first attempt charged down, then getting it back from a ricochet and Paul Mendy to sweep it in from seven yards.
Meanwhile, Juventus, even with a staggering 71 percent possession, looked totally lost up front. Nico Gonzalez couldn’t keep a finish under control from six yards early on, and he curled wide later. Their first shot on target came in first half stoppages, a free kick from Gonzalez that barely stung Elia Caprile’s gloves. Yeah, that’s it, 71 percent possession and barely a whimper. It didn’t help that Juve was without Kenan Yildiz, Khephren Thuram, Manuel Locatelli, Jeremie Boga, Jeff Ekhator, Kamil Grabara, and Arkadiusz Milik. Oh, and new goalie Neto was still sitting out a ban.
Kolo Muani to the Rescue, But It Should’ve Been More
The second half saw some changes, with Kerim Alajbegovic and Edon Zhegrova coming on for Juventus, and Deiola making a comeback for Cagliari. Zhegrova definitely brought some much-needed life, forcing Caprile to make a tricky save. But it felt like Cagliari was still finding ways to threaten on the counter, with Mendy and Alieu Fadera forcing tough saves from Guglielmo Vicario, even if they were offside.
Then, FINALLY, Randal Kolo Muani stepped up. His first goal of the season, a glancing header at the back post off a swerving Alajbegovic cross from the left, pulled Juve level. Huge sigh of relief, right? Except just four minutes later, Kolo Muani had *another* practically identical cross from Alajbegovic, and he volleyed it onto the underside of the crossbar instead of into the net. Talk about a missed opportunity to turn the game around completely.
So, Juventus snags a point thanks to Kolo Muani, but this result has to leave a bad taste. They were “toothless” for long stretches against a Cagliari team that’s been on a tear. With 71 percent possession and so little to show for it until late, they’ve got to figure out how to convert that dominance into actual goals. They need to find that killer instinct if they want to hang with the top of the table. What a wild ride, and what a frustrating night for the Bianconeri.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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